Rani Kot Fort

Ranikot Fort is one of those wonders of Sindh which tell the tale of the past through the bricks and mud. The history is silent on the question of the hands and minds behind its construction.

and the visitors and chroniclers also wonder on the purpose of this fort far away from the populated areas.90 kilo meters north of Hyderabad and 30 km southwest of Saan, Jamshoro in Sindh, Ranikot Fort is the largest fort of the world with the boundary of 26 km. Nature has supported to build this huge castle as the man-made portion of its walls is only 8.25 km. The rest have been made by the cliffs of the Kirthar Range. From north to south, Karo Takkar (the Black Hill) stands as wall and ‘Lundi Hills’ in the east makes its boundary. The rain-stream named as “Rani Nai” enters the fort from the west and leaves it from the east after covering 33 km and joins River Indus.

Archaeologists are skeptical about the origin of the fort and there are different opinions on the real builder of it. According to some, it was built in 836 by Imran Bin Musa Barmaki, the Governor of Sindh. While some attribute it to the Sassanians Persia or the Greeks. 17th century has been reported to be the origin of the fort but its reconstruction is stated by Mir Murad Ali and his brother Mir Karam Ali Khan Talpur in 1812.

Ranikot comprises of two fortresses Shergarh and Meeri having the same curved entrance.Meeri has been designed from fortification point of view and lies in the center of the Ranikot. It was used to be the residence of the Talpur Mirs. From here they could see the Shergarh Fort within the Ranikot fort. The ruins of Meerikot remind of the harem, court, guest room and soldiers’ quarters of the Talpur Mirs. Made with whitish stone, Shergarh has five strongholds like Meeri fort. It is 1480 feet above the sea level due to which water could not be drained to it. Only rain streams used to water it.

Amri gate is also found besides Saan and Mohan Gates which are frequently quoted. In the south Shahpir Gate was a breach in the wall which is now know as gate. The ruins have unfolded a mosque, fossils and skeletons of the prehistoric times on the pinnacle of Lundi Hills. Three graveyards show some four hundred graves with images of peacocks and sunflowers on them.